The headache for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games organizers shows no signs of subsiding.

The National Commission for Women will tomorrow submit to the Prime Ministers Office its report on the alleged gang rape of a 21-year-old in Motihari in Bihars East Champaran district.

The women's body has also sought an appointment with Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard.

The Commission had instituted an inquiry into the gang rape and one of its members had visited the town as part of a fact-finding mission.

In the report we have mentioned that doctors in Bihar still continue to use the two finger test, which has already been banned. We have also sought details from the doctor who carries out medical tests on rape survivors because we suspect that several rape cases are simply brushed aside.

We will also summon the civil surgeon on July 1. We also have several issues specifically about the local police and we will be sharing those with the home minister, Sushma Sahu, the NCW member who travelled to Motihari said.
 

The incident had taken place nearly a week ago. Five men, who had stormed into the womans hut, dragged her out and gang-raped her in front of her parents and neighbours.

The accused had allegedly inserted a pistol and a wooden stick in her private parts.

Also read

• Bihar's Nirbhaya needs our help

 

JUST IN: One terrorist killed in encounter with Army in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir.

JUST IN: United Kingdom Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn refuses to resign after losing confidence vote.

Labour MPs have passed a motion of no confidence in leader Jeremy Corbyn by 172 votes to 40, with four abstentions.

In a statement after the vote, Labour issues a statement saying: 'The Parliamentary Labour Party has accepted the following motion -- That this PLP has no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party.'

According to the BBC, the 'names in the frame' to possibly challenge Jeremy Corbyn are Tom Watson and Angel Eagle.

JUST IN: Encounter breaks out between terrorists and security forces in Lolab area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of Infosys techie murder case and written to Tamil Nadu director general of police and general manager of Southern Railway seeking an action taken report.

Based on the report, the NCW will take further course of action and, if required, shall constitute an inquiry committee to submit recommendations to the Centre.

Swathi, 24, was found murdered at Nungambakkam railway station in Chennai, triggering an outrage in civil society and among political parties.

A long-awaited report on the 2012 Benghazi terror attacks chastises Hillary Clinton for letting four Americans die on her watch-- but apparently does not cite her for any wrongdoing. 

US President Barack Obama has warned against financial and global hysteria after Britain's vote to leave the European Union, saying that while full European integration may be on pause, cataclysmic changes are unlikely. 

The murder charge against 10 officers of a construction firm were dropped from the first chargesheet filed by Kolkata Police in connection with the collapse of a portion of under-construction Vivekananda flyover that killed 26 people about three months ago. 

The government should announce the successor of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan sooner than later, considering the increased global risks after Brexit, an industry body said today. 

The flamboyant former London mayor Boris Johnson is emerging as the hot favourite to succeed the outgoing British Prime Minister David Cameron. 

Stressing on the need to continue with sound domestic policies and reforms, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan today said banks' asset quality stress has to be dealt first in order to revive the credit growth.


"The stress in the banking sector, which mirrors the stress in the corporate sector, has to be dealt with in order to revive credit growth," Rajan said in his foreword to the Financial Stability Report (FSR) released by the Reserve Bank.


"We need to deal with legacy issues that hold back growth and bring changes to enhance the efficacy of our business processes and conduct," the outgoing Governor said. Rajan said that in the global context, the country "stands out" in terms of relatively stronger growth and improved economic fundamentals but we need to stay on the path of "sound domestic policies and structural reforms".

The evolving domestic financial system needs to have efficient risk sharing, intermediation and also effective transmission of policy rates into banks' lending rates, he said.

During his three-year tenure at the RBI, Rajan's focus on inflation and the higher rates thereof, was blamed for stifling growth by the pro-growth lobby.

The credit growth has fallen to a multi-year low as the NPA-affected banks have slowed down on lending. Pointing to the mixed signals from the world over, Rajan said global economies are experiencing fragile and uneven growth recoveries, deflationary pressures and uncertainties emanating from shifting monetary policy stances in some jurisdiction.

The geopolitical risks also loom large, he added. Calling it a challenging world, Rajan, who has been often critical of the impact of accommodative policy stance on emerging countries through volatility in capital flows, said policy making in such an environment can result in "negative spillovers" to other countries.

Fifteen troops have been killed and over 60 injured in half-a-dozen militant attacks on convoys or road opening parties of central security forces in Jammu and Kashmir in the last one year.

As per a Home Ministry report, militants have attacked security forces with precision in the last one year.

Despite launching only six such hits, they inflicted fatal injuries on 15 soldiers from BSF and CRPF while injuring 63 of them.

In all these cases, there was an element of surprise as the militants targeted the convoys that have remained vulnerable while they travel within the state, unleashing heavy fire from automatic weapons, it said.

The report also suggested that security agencies, as per an intelligence assessment, fear that attacks like the last week's ambush of a CRPF convoy in the Valley could see an upward trend in the coming months.

A total of four terrorists were killed by the security forces as part of their retaliatory action after the strikes during the said period, the report said.

The Border Security Force lost two of its men when militants targeted their bus in Udhampur district in August last year followed by a similar assault on a CRPF contingent in Bijbehara where 5 personnel got injured.

The militants targeted a Central Reserve Police Force convoy at Pampore in February this year killing 2 men of the paramilitary and injuring eight others. Similarly, on June 3, militants ambushed a BSF party in Bijbehara in Anantnag district when they were on a routine movement killing three troopers. Nine BSF men were injured in this attack.

Representational picture

The Reserve Bank of India today released the Financial Stability Report June 2016, a biannual publication and the thirteenth in the series.

"As global uncertainties & transiting geopolitical risks impact India, continuation of sound domestic policies and structural reforms remain the key for macroeconomic stability," says the Reserve Bank of India.

"We should stick to sound domestic policies and structural reforms," says Rajan. "India stands out in a challenging global environment with stronger growth and improved fundamentals," the governor said.

Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep tweets: Remembering Appan Menon, old colleague and stalwart of NDTV from the world this week days on his 20th death anniv.

Read: Arnab Goswami rememebers his boss Appan Menon

Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu's run in with  public transport has been far from pleasant. The minister today took to Twitter when he his Air India flight was delayed as the pilot arrived late. Government servants usually fly by the national flag carrier.

Naidu tweeted, "Air India should explain how such things (his flight was delayed) are happening. Transparency and  accountability are need of hour. Hope Air India understands that we are in the age of competition. Missed an important appointment."

Last month, Naidu experienced first hand the frustration that citizens in Bengaluru feel about Namma Metro. His early morning ride on Namma Metro turned into a feedback session with many users urging him to direct the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) to hasten the Phase 1 and ensure that Phase 2 is on track.

The English language may be one of the casualties of Brexit as it emerged that no state other than the UK has registered it as a primary language among the 28 countries within the European Union.

English has been the top choice for European Union (EU) institutions but Britain's vote to leave the union last week could trigger a ban on its use.

"We have a regulation where every EU country has the right to notify one official language," Danuta Hubner, the Polish MEP or Member of European Parliament who heads the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee, told a press conference in Brussels yesterday.

"The Irish have notified Gaelic and the Maltese have notified Maltese, so you have only the UK notifying English," she said in reference to the fact that English is in everyday use in member countries Ireland and Malta.

Hubner said that although English was the "dominant language" used by the EU civil servants and MEPs, in legal terms "if you do not have the UK, you do not have English", 'The Times' reported.

Regulations would have to be changed to retain the language, requiring a unanimous vote from the 27 remaining states. The EU has 24 official languages but for daily business, the European Commission and council of ministers use English, French and German.

Although English is the most popular foreign language in all but five European countries, French politicians have led calls since the Brexit vote for an end to its dominance. However, the Germans are wary of allowing the French their way.

JUST IN: European Parliament calls for 'immediate' triggering of Brexit, says AFP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will meet tomorrow afternoon at 7 Racecourse Road to formulate and finalise the Cabinet reshuffle.

The Union Cabinet meets to pass key decisions (like a hike in salary for Central government employees) which is when Narendra Modi is expected to speak to a few Union Ministers personally.

The Cabinet on Wednesday is likely to approve higher increase in basic pay than the nearly 15 per cent recommended by the 7th Pay Commission for over 1 crore (Rs 10 million) government employees and pensioners.

Meanwhile, for the first time, Amit Shah will visit the Nehru Museum in New Delhi and inaugurate an exhibition on Dr Shyama Prasad Mookerjee  A Selfless Patriot at 11 am tomorrow at Teen Murti Bhawan, Nehnru's former residence. Mookerjee is the founder of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, which later evolved into the BJP.

A 29-year-old man from Gujarat was arrested for allegedly molesting an air hostess onboard a Mumbai-bound flight from Dammam in Saudi Arabia, police said today.


The incident took place yesterday on Jet Airways flight 9W 563, a senior official of Sahar Police Station said.


The accused, identified as Mohamad Ambudkar was travelling from from Saudi Arabia and during the entire journey, he forcefully tried to take selfie with an air hostess, the official said. Ambudkar, who hails from Gujarat, also smoked cigarette inside the washroom of the aircraft.


Upon landing at the city airport in Mumbai, he was handed over to the police after immigration checks, he said. Based on a complaint by the air hostess, he has been booked under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC, and section 25 Aircraft Rules (safety violation).

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal meets family members of the fishermen community in Panaji, Goa.  Kejriwal is in Goa on a two-day visit.

During his trip, he will interact with the fishermen community and the youth.

"We are sure of winning 35 out of 40 seats in Goa. Our first priority is to curb corruption. We intend to start fight against drugs once we are able to stop corruption," Kejriwal said.

Kejriwal had visited the state last month where he officially announced the party's plan to contest elections in the state which is currently led by the BJP.

"Arvind Kejriwal will go to Goa on a two-day visit to assess preparations and meet members of the community,' said an AAP leader, who did not wish to be named. The AAP fancies its chances in the 40-seat assembly due to rising anti-incumbency in the state.

Flash: Special NIA Court rejects bail to Sadhvi Pragya in 2008 Malegaon blast case.

Pakistan's former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani's son Ali Haider Gilani, who was recently rescued by the American forces in Afghanistan, has said that he was kidnapped by al-Qaeda to force government to free some women family members of the terror group's chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.


Ali, who was kidnapped by six militants from Multan after an election rally in May 9, 2013, said he was first taken to the industrial town of Faisalabad where kidnappers kept him for two months before shifting him to North Waziristan.


"I was chained for two years," he said. "I was kept in a small room, not allowed to see the sky for one year and two months. I forgot how the sun felt on my skin."


He was shifted to Afghanistan earlier this year when Pakistan army launched operation in border area of Shawal in North Waziristan. He was recovered last month by US forces by sheer chance when his two captors were killed in a raid in Afghanistan's Paktika province.

"They wanted the government to release some women from family of al-Zawahiri and also demanded hefty ransom," Ali, who was in custody of al-Qaeda for three years, told BBC Urdu. Ali said he was not physically tortured but forced to live mental agony.

"They'd tell me 'you're not a Muslim, your father is not a Muslim, you'll go to hell, your family aren't doing anything to help you'," he said. He said that the militants were angry with his father for operations against them.

"My father was prime minister when their leader Osama Bin Laden was killed. He also started an operation in South Waziristan. They told me they wanted to take revenge," he said. Ali said he had a diary where he tried to keep track of time and jot down day-to-day thoughts: "It kept me sane." "I prayed a lot. I used to think of my son and say I have to survive for him."

Six days after morphed and obscene pictures of her were posted on Facebook, a 21-year-old in Tamil Nadu has hanged herself, reports NDTV.

Read more

Tamil Nadu woman, 21, kills herself allegedly over morphed photos posted on Facebook.

Isak Chisi Swu, chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-Isak-Muivah), passed away on Tuesday, reports Zee News.

He was undergoing treatment at the prestigious Fortis Hospital in New Delhi for a "combination of illnesses". He was in his eighties.

The 85-year-old high-profile rebel Naga leader was earlier admitted to Fortis Charitable Hospital due to chest infection. Swu suffered from "pre-existing diabetes and kidney ailment'.

Founder member of NSCN, Swu, who along with Thuingaleng Muivah and S S Khaplang, raised the banner of sovereignty for Greater Nagalim outside of India.

This happened on January 31, 1980, after they opposed the Naga faction of Naga National Council for entering into an understanding with the Indian government.Negotiations between Indian and Naga leaders have been going on since a ceasefire was signed in 1997, without a solution in sight, but since then several factions have emerged.

The Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) to meet tomorrow to decide the dates for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is likely to begin in the third week of July.

The monsoon session of Parliament is likely to begin from July 18 and conclude on August 12.

The CCPA meet headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has been convened to firm up the schedule.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already said that the government will try to get the GST Bill passed in this session. He said that all states, except Tamil Nadu, were in favour of the Bill.

"I don't grudge Mehbooba her newfound liberalism and ultra-nationalism. Also, I understand that her compulsion as an ally of the BJP to equate Islam with terror. Plus, personally for her, there is a lot of erasing, proving and un-proving to do. The old Mehbooba's image of a raucous, untamable and rebellious opposition leader who thrived on emotionalism will take a lot of undoing and re-branding. All those "Revoke AFSPA" placards, green handkerchiefs and "dual currency" slogans are still cached in the deep, dark vault of New Delhi's inherent distrust of Kashmiri leaders."

Read former J-K CM Omar Abdullah's column here.   

A top American Senator has asked the Obama Administration to discontinue issuing immigrant and non-immigrant visas to citizens from 23 countries, including India and China, while alleging them of being non-cooperative in taking back illegal immigrants from the US.

"Dangerous criminals, including murderers, are being released every day because their home countries will not cooperate in taking them back,' Republican Senator Senate Chuck Grassley said in a letter to the Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.In fiscal year 2015 alone, 2,166 individuals were released in the US because of this decision and the non-cooperation from recalcitrant countries; more than 6,100 were released in the preceding two years, Grassley, who is the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman said.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today announced a financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh each to the kin of five CRPF jawans hailing from Uttar Pradesh, who were killed in an ambush by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir last week.


"The Chief Minister has announced all possible help to the family members of the CRPF jawans killed in terrorist attack in Pampore district and said the country salutes their martyrdom," an official spokesman said.


Eight jawans were killed when two terrorists attacked CRPF convoy in Pampore district on June 25. Five of the slain jawans - Kailash Kumar Yadav (Unnao), Sanjay Kumar (Jaunpur), Veer Singh (Firozabad), Satish Chandra (Meerut), and Rajesh Kumar (Allahabad) - hailed from the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally gave a television interview to an Indian channel. But could he have said more?

Thanks to the mellowed Arnab Goswami, who clearly was not wearing the same hat as when he was speaking frankly with Rahul Gandhi, this was not an interview that gave a great headline. It was more of a space filler and maybe Goswami knew it and that is why such a big interview was pushed first for the 6pm slot and not the Times Now super prime time when half, or more, of India pawn their eyeballs to their most popular channel.

There was a bit of friendly banter here and there, like when the two discussed how Modi approached the US Congress, but there was none of the chest thumping let-me-tell-you-what-I-want-to-hear line of questioning from Indias top news anchor

But then this is the PM and you cant speak to him as if he was some long-retired Pakistani General sitting a safe 500 miles away in Islamabad.
Often, the PM gave the impression that he wanted to speak more and could have opened up more had he been probed more. But then that was not to be.

There was hardly any body language on show either. Hands are often a good indicator of the how the interview is going and if some questions are being stress points. The gilded frame model of Time Nows screen format made sure that all we saw of the PM was his face, his hands tucked away behind bands of text.

Surely editors across India will now be struggling to figure out which point to highlight in the headline. They had one good hook though, when the PM spoke about how the fondness for publicity is never going to do any good to the nation in an obvious reference to party MP Subramanian Swamy.

But then India wants to hear much beyond Swamy and that was not on offer. But then that is not the PMs fault. His answers can only be as good as the questions. And the man with all the questions, as well as the answers, sadly failed the nation today.

Italian actor and filmmaker Bud Spencer, who starred in a number of Spaghetti Westerns, has died aged 86, reports the BBC.

He passed away peacefully on Monday in Rome "and did not suffer from pain", his son said.

Spencer, whose real name was Carlo Pedersoli, was known among his fans as the "big friendly giant" of the screen because of his height and weight.

Spencer, who was also a professional swimmer, played in more than 20 films from the 1950s to the 1980s.

"He had all of us next to him and his last words were 'Thank you'," his son Giuseppe Pedersoli said.

In a tweet (in Italian), Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said: "Ciao #BudSpencer We loved you so much."

Spencer was born in the southern Italian city of Naples in 1929, but later moved to Rome, where he became a promising swimmer.

In 1950, he was the first Italian to swim 100m in under one minute.

He later abandoned his sporting career and began playing in westerns and comedy films, often alongside Terence Hill.

Spencer appeared in movies including Ace High, They Call Me Trinity and A Friend is a Treasure.

Spencer said he chose his name as a tribute to his favourite beer Budweiser and US actor Spencer Tracy.

More details on the brazen entry into a J-K leader's home.

Mukhtar Ahmad/Rediff.com reporting from Srinagar: Militants Tuesday overpowered the personal security Officer (PSO) of a middle-rung BJP leader in central Kashmir's Budgam district and fled with the cop's service rifle.

A senior police officer said militants overpowered Bashir Ahmad, a constable posted as PSO of Ghulam Mohammad Chopan, a BJP middle rung leader in Panzan (Chadoora) village of Budgam district.

"After overpowering the PSO, militants fled with his AK-47 service rifle on a motorcycle. A manhunt has been launched to trace the militants,' the officer told Rediff.com.

Just in: NS Vishwanathan has been appointed as deputy governor of the RBI.  Vishwanathan, an Executive Director at the Reserve Bank of India emerged as the top contender for the post. Vishwanathan will succeed HR Khan whose tenure will end on 3rd July.

This is what Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal thinks of Arnab Goswami's interview with PM Modi last evening on Times Now: @ArvindKejriwal  "Is Arnab Goswami a journalist or Modi propagandist?"

Clearly, his opinion of Mr Goswami has not changed, since this is a 23 April 2014 tweet he retweeted.  

Just in: Terrorists enter BJP leader's home in Budhgam, Jammu and Kashmir and snatch his AK 47 rifle. The unidentified men entered BJP leader Abdul Rehman Chopan's residence and snatched the AK-47 rifle from his PSO in the Panzan area of Budgam district. Rehman is believed to be unharmed. Details awaited.

Just this morning a Hizbul commander was killed in a gunfight with security forces.  This was the seventh attack in Kashmir in less than a week.

Narendra Modi spoke of a "very clear message" but Subramanian Swamy got away with what sounded like a mild - and implied - rap. The farthest the Prime Minister went by way of censuring the BJP Rajya Sabha MP was to call his recent burst of tweeted diatribes "publicity stunts". Read more

A 40-year-old woman cab driver was found dead in her rented house in suburban Bengaluru, police said on Tuesday. Veerath Bharathi was one of the first few women cab drivers in the city who had started her career by joining Angel cabs and later on moved to Uber in 2013.

The Sanjay Nagar police inspector told IANS that Bharathi's body was found hanging in her room by a cloth-like rope and it appears to be a case of suicide. "It appears to be a case of suicide, as the victim's (V. Bharathi) body was found hanging by a cloth-like rope from the ceiling of a room by her landlord on Monday night,' Sanjay Nagar police inspector Prakash told IANS.

No suicide note was found in the house but a case of unnatural death has been registered by the police.

Bharathi was from Andhra Pradesh and was staying alone in Bengaluru at her house in Nagashettyhalli colony.

The body was discovered by her landlord who then called the police.

Image: V Bharathi. Pic courtesy: Facebook.

The Rashtriya Muslim Manch (an affiliate of the RSS) on Tuesday announced that it is withdrawing its Iftar party invitation to Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit. The party is to be held at the Parliament Annexe on July 2.


With Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives being responsible for the death of as many as eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit had earlier shrugged off questions related to the attack, saying that media would be better off focusing on the Iftaar party hosted by the Pakistan High Commission.


"It's the month of Ramzaan, let's focus on this Iftaar party. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed issue between India and Pakistan. It's an issue which needs to be solved. We hope we will sit and discuss on the issue and find a solution. Let's have the iftaar party and enjoy ourselves," Basit said.


The Shiv Sena had accused the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of losing the 'Hindutva Agenda' after the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of the Sangh, announced plans to host a grand Iftar on July 2, saying it is 'pure hypocrisy' on the part of the saffron party.

Kayande also questioned the criticism by the BJP and the RSS of the Congress when it had earlier tried to do the same. Her comments came after the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, invited ambassadors from nearly 140 countries earlier to attend an international Roza Iftar party at the Parliament House Annexe on July 2.

A Cabinet meeting has been convened on Wednesday to take up 7th pay commission committee's report which will change the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

Kupwara encounter UPDATE: A Hizbul commander has been killed in gunfight with security forces, encounter ends.

Jisha murder case: Kerala Police on Tuesday brought accused Amir ul Islam to Perumbavoor for evidence collection.

Just In: Muneer, the main accused in the murder of NIA officer Tanzil Ahmed, has been arrested by an Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force. His questioning is underway.

Argentine president asks Lionel Messi to stay in national team: Reports

Not since World War II has Britain faced such an uncertain future.A vote last week to pull out of the European Union has left Britain with a nasty hangover, sending the currency spiraling, dampening markets, creating a leadership vacuum and triggering talks of Scottish secession from Britain, forcing the government into damage control.

Iceland script history; stun England 2-1 to reach maiden quarterfinals of Euro.

The International Monetary Fund today cleared payment of $501 million for Pakistan taking the total amount given to the country to $6.1 billion in the last few years.

Mukhtar Ahmad reports from Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is reviewing the entire security scenario to prevent any attack on security forces in future.

Pakistan will not back down from its "principled stand" on the Kashmir issue which would be on top of the agenda whenever the bilateral dialogue is held with India, the country's top diplomat today said.